Coil spring trailer



L. STERLING COIL SPRING TRAILER l Filed Aug. l, k1.955

Nov. 23, 1937.y

y Patented Nov. 23, 1937 uNirEo STATES PATENT QFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relatesto trailer constructions and more particularly to an improved trailer frame for supporting a trailer body.

Anobject of this invention is `to provide anL 5 improved cushioned frame which maybe mounted unsuitable wheels and connect to a vehicle by means of a draw bar with thecushioning means so constructed as to take-care of any overloads to which .the *bodyv and frame may be subjected.

Another object `of this invention is to provide an improved trailer frame which is of simple con struction and which will adequately support a trailer body so that the body mayhave movement relative to the axle. Y

With the foregoing and other vobjects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claim appended hereto.

In the drawing wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, Y Figure l is a detail top plan partly broken away and in section of a trailer frame constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a detail front elevation partly broken away and in section of the frame.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I 0 designates generally an axle provided at the opposite ends thereof with spindles I3 on which wheels may be mounted.- An elongated plate II is secured to the upper side of the axle I0 by means of bolts or other fastening devices I2 and a pair of tubular guide members I4 are mounted in upstanding relation on top of the platel or rbar II,

one adjacent each end thereof. These tubular members are open at the top and a pair of tubular slide members I5 slidably engage within the low-V er tubular members I4. The slide members I5 are secured at the upper ends thereof to a channel frame bar I6, which is disposed in parallel relation to the axle IIJ.

The frame structure comprising the channel member I6 and the slide members I5 is cushioned with respect to the axle I0 by means of a pair of concentric coil springs I'I which are disposed within the slide member I5 and extend downwardly into the guide member I4. The upper ends of the springs I1 engage against the upper ends of the slide members I5 and the lower ends thereof engage against a stop member or abutment I8 which is secured to the guide member I4 at a point upwardly from the lower end thereof. The abutment I8 is provided with an axial opening I9 through which an elongated bar 20 (Guaso-106.5)

loosely engages. 'I'his bar 20 has the upper' end thereof secured, as at 2|, to the'channel member 'I6y and is'provifded adjacent the lowerend there'- of with an elongated slot 22 through which 'a pin 23 engages. The pin 23 extends-diametrically across the guide .member I4'and" isheld" against movement Iby means' of cotter pins 24V or thelile.

Trie pin V23 'actsfto" prevent puuing ourofftne famemay be subjected." 0

A draw bar 2 5 has its inner end secured to a cross beam 26 which is substantially of I-construction, and the opposite ends of the I-beam 26 are secured as by welding or the like to the upstanding guide members I4 which point upwardly 15 from the lower ends thereof, as shown in Figure 2. The draw bar 25 is braced by means of upper braces 21 which have their inner ends secured to the guide members I4 and their outer ends secured to a plate 28 fixed to the draw bar 25 for- 20 wardly of the inner end thereof. Lower braces 29 have their inner ends secured, as at 30, to the guide members I4 adjacent the lower ends thereof and the forward ends of the braces 29 are secured to the plate 28, preferably on the underside 25 thereof, asshown in Figure 2. Additional braces 3I are secured at their inner ends to the guide memb-ers I4 adjacent the upper ends thereof and these braces 3| are secured at their forward ends to the upper braces 21, as at 32. Braces 33 are 30 provided to additionally brace the guide members I4, the braces 33 being secured at their upper ends, as at 34, to the underside of the I-beam 26 and at their lower ends to the plate I I, as at 35.

In order to provide a means whereby to cush- 35 ion any overload to which the frame structure I5;I6 may be subjected, I have provided overload cushioning means in form of stationary guide members 36, which are secured in spaced apart relation to the upper side of the I-beam 40 26 closely adjacent the guide members I4 and slide members 3'I which telescope the guide members 36 and are secured at their upper ends to the underside of the channel member I6 by means of securing rivets or bolts 38. 45

An overload spring 39 is disposed within the guide member 36 and extends upwardly into the silde member 31 and is an expanding spring which is adapted to cooperate with the pairs of concentric springs I'I to take care of any overload or additional strains to which the frame may be subjected. The guide members 36 are braced by means of bracing members 4l) which have their upper ends secured to the guide members 36 adjacent the upper ends thereof and the 55 lower ends of the bracing members 40 are secured to the upper side of the I-beams.

In the use of this device, thedraw bar 25 is adapted to Ybe secured Vto a suitable connection forming a part Vof a vehicle and wheels are transverse pin 23,V which isA secured to Aeach stationary guide member I4.'

While I have shown the trailer frame construction as havingonly onerpair of wheels itVV V.will be 'understood that, if desired, a pair'of these frame members may be used where the trailer body is suiciently large to require such additional support.`

It Vis, of course, understood that various changes Vand modifications may be made inA the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this inven tion without departing from' the spirit thereof,

such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claim.

I claimz- Y VA trailer comprising upper and lower horizontal frame bars, a lower pair ofrtubular guide members secured to said lower bar, a second pair of tubular members secured to said upper'bar and Yslidably engagingV said lower tubular members, an intermediate frame bar secured at the ends thereof to said lower tubularV members at aV point rspaced upwardly of the lower ends thereof, telescoping tubular members securedV to said intermediate and said upper bar between said rst named guideV members, expanding springs within said'tubular members, a plate inl each of saidlower guide Ymembers upwardly of the lower ends thereof engaging against the lower ends of said springs, a pair of elongated rods secured to saidupper bar and extending axially downward l in said iirst named upper tubular members, said rods each having an elongated opening therethrough, a pin extendingl transverselyY through each lower guide member and the opening therein to thereby limit the vertical movement f of said upper bar, a draft bar, forwardly extending bracing means secured to said lower guide members and to said draft bar, and cured to said lower bar. Y

- LEONARD STERLING.

an axle se- 

